M&S embarks on an innovative trial using drones and robot tractors to reduce carbon emissions.
- This UK retailer is pioneering autonomous farming with the goal of improving crop quality and sustainability.
- The project, in collaboration with Huntapac, is already producing results with the first crops set to hit stores in November.
- The technology focuses on reducing diesel use and maintaining soil health with green fertilisers.
- This initiative supports M&S’s Plan A sustainability programme towards achieving net zero emissions.
M&S has initiated a groundbreaking trial in the UK, employing drones and robot tractors to create a more sustainable farming model aimed at reducing carbon emissions. The initiative is part of M&S’s Plan A sustainability programme, with a mission to achieve net zero emissions through innovative agricultural practices.
As the first UK retailer to undertake such a trial, M&S has partnered with Huntapac, a leading root vegetable supplier, to cultivate parsnips in Yorkshire. The trial commenced with the planting of the first batch in March, utilising two types of drones and robotic machinery for bed forming, weeding, and planting. This novel technology promises to enhance the quality and quantity of crop yields, a crucial factor for the retailer’s ambitious environmental goals.
“Agriculture is one of our biggest contributors to emissions, so it’s important that we find new lower impact farming methods,” said Andrew Clappen, M&S Food’s technical director. These technological advancements not only reduce the carbon footprint but are envisioned to draw more skilled workers into the agricultural sector by introducing sophisticated automation.
The use of drones plays a vital role in maintaining and monitoring crop health, allowing for precise agricultural interventions that are less reliant on fossil fuels. Coupled with a green fertiliser strategy, this approach helps keep carbon locked into the soil, fundamentally changing traditional farming practices that typically depend heavily on diesel-powered machinery.
This project represents a significant investment from M&S, funded by its sustainability accelerator, marking a proactive step towards more eco-friendly production processes. The retailer emphasises that if these autonomous methods are adopted more extensively, they could reform agricultural employment and attract new talent to the field.
M&S’s autonomous farming trial demonstrates a forward-thinking approach to sustainable agriculture with the potential to transform the sector.
